Three weeks ago, TVGuidemagazine.com sat down with DJ AM, who was found dead yesterday in his New York apartment of an apparent drug overdose, to discuss his upcoming MTV series, Gone Too Far, a sort of Intervention for young people. A long-time recovering addict and alcoholic himself, AM (born Adam Goldstein) was frank, open and obviously devoted to helping others find recovery, especially after surviving a near-fatal plane crash that left him and fellow musician Travis Barker with multiple injuries and burns last year. Perhaps Goldstein’s tragic end will open the eyes of those struggling with dependency to the fatal nature of addiction and vital importance of asking for help.

Obviously, you’ll be bringing some of your own recovery experience into this…
I relate to every kid exactly what it’s like to have that phenomenon of craving, when you just cannot stop. I know what it’s like…I speak “addict” to addicts, so they kind of dig it. They get it. And I tell them there is hope.

Where are you finding these people?
For one, on my MySpace page. MTV put out a release saying that I was doing this show and if you had a loved one who was an addict or alcoholic…and people could hit me up directly. Within 10 days I would be at their house. Others have been through interventionists we have contacted. There is a professional interventionist and an addiction specialist on every episode.

Have you met any resistance from the kids?
None. When the actual do-or-die moment comes, when it’s ‘guess what, there’s a flight that leaves in three hours and your bags were packed last night for you,’ they might be like ‘wait, right now? I wanted to go out with one last bang.’ But pretty much all of them have been like ‘eff it, I’ll go.’

You’re getting them 90 days at various rehabs?
Yep.

Do they realize that some rehabs encourage sober living after that? At halfway houses and continuing care programs?
I try to keep it in the present. Because some of them are like ‘90 days?!’ So I ask them if they will commit to 30 days.

Because often times, once they clear up, extended care becomes attractive.
Exactly.

Did you do rehab?
I tried several and they didn’t work for me.

How long have you been clean?
Eleven and a half years. April 1st, 1998.

Do you deal with other issues like food addiction or self-injuring?
I only deal with drug addicts and alcoholics. Because that’s all I know. I wouldn’t be qualified to take on anything else. I am an alcoholic and an addict.

And like you said, they get it. Alcoholics more than anyone can get through to another alcoholic.
I dealt with a 23-year-old girl who was straight-up alcoholic…there’s not a doubt in her mind. I just visited her the other day, she had 17 days cleans and said ‘I cannot drink like other people. I know that I’m positive.’

Will they be encouraged to join a 12-step program after treatment?
I encourage them, no matter what, that they work with other alcoholics and addicts [to help them].

Where did this idea come from?
About two years ago, MTV expressed interest in me and said that they would love to do something, but what? A DJ show? A this, a that? They said what do you do? And I told them that I help people get sober. I have for 11 years…since I’ve got it, the only way to keep sobriety is to give it away and that’s something I do already. So two years ago we started to working around with the idea.

And after the crash…
After that, I had to heal so we had to put this on pause for that.

Obviously, you were put on pain pills for your burns and injuries…
Yeah.

And after facing something like the crash, that must have really inspired you to move forward with this.
Yeah. I mean…I lived, I got another chance. So I should help other people live, because these kids are dying.

What would be your biggest piece advice to a young person—or anyone, really—trying to get sober?
Ask for help. Everyone tries to do it on their own. How come I can’t figure this out? Why can’t I stop? “Help me” is the ultimate humility. And surrender…it's a lot easier to give up than try to control that side of yourself. I’ve realized that I’d lost all control, that was it. When I realized that and asked for help, that was the beginning.

And what kind of support do you have for yourself during all of this?
I have always brought someone with me, a fellow recovering addict, a friend who’s always been with me. I do a lot of ‘God, please help me help this person. Just speak through me so that I can say the thing that may help save their lives.”

What are your long-term plans with this?
I will always do this. As long as I am sober, I will try to help other people stay sober. Whether there’s a camera there or not.